22nd September

The first day of really heavy rain for quite some time did not produce the best birding conditions but it did at least bring some much needed moisture to the parched ground. As the howling gale had alleviated over night, there was a bit more variety out to sea, despite numbers of each species being dismally low: 5 BalearicShearwaters, 9 CommonScoters, an ArcticTern, a BlackTern, 3 ArcticSkuas, a Mediterranean Gull and a Whimbrel. MeadowPipit passage was hindered somewhat by the deluge and therefore numbers were slightly down on yesterday with 700 grounded birds. Accompanying these were: a GreyWagtail, 3 YellowWagtails, 2 TreePipits and 150 Swallows. Other migrants of note included a Whinchat in the top fields, a SpottedFlycatcher in the obs garden and a Hobby past the Bill.